Basildon

Basildon's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, housing tenure and marriage.

The population passed 170,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Basildon increased by 5.3%, from almost 166,000 to 174,000.

The addition of about 8,800 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Basildon was home to, on average, 11 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Basildon

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Basildon increased by two years, from 37 to 39 years.

This suburban area had a slightly lower average age than Eastof England and had a similar age to the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 4,400 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 3,000.

About 15.0% of people in Basildon are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Basildon by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Basildon

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Basildon was among those who said they had no religion, rising 13.7 points.

In 2011, 32.5% of respondents in Basildon gave this religion on the census compared with 18.8% of those who answered in 2001.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 18.2% to 30.0%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Newham, 64.7% said they were Christian, compared with 79.3% in 2001. About 0.1% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.1% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion decreased from 8.1% to 7.3%.

In Basildon, 6.8% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.5% in 2001. In East, 7.3% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in Basildon increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, East and Basildon by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Basildon

The percentage of Basildon residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.2% to 3.9% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 6.3%, while the percentage of Basildon residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90.5% to 89.9%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Basildon, but at a slower rate than in Thurrock (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Basildon).

In Basildon, the proportion of private renting increased from 4.8% in 2001 to 10.2% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Thurrock increased from 6.5% to 14.1%.

Across Eastof England, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.6% to 14.6%.

The rate of social housing in Basildon fell from 23.1% to 22.0%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 69.9% to 65.9%.

Private renting in Basildon increased by 5.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Basildon, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

The percentage of adults in Basildon that were married decreased from 53.0% to 48.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in three (32.1%) people aged 16 and over said they were single, compared with 27.7% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Basildon that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 11.3% to 12.6%.

The proportion of married people fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 54.2% in 2001 to 49.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 50.6% to 46.6%.

The proportion of married people was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Basildon residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.3% to 5.5% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81.2%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69.5% in 2001. The percentage of Basildon residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22.2% to 13.3%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Basildon decreased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Basildon, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Basildon

In 2011, 2.7% of Basildon residents said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 0.7% in 2001.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of people from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.9% to 2.1%, while across England the percentage went from 2.4% to 3.6%.

Around 92.7% of people in Basildon said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 96.9% in 2001. About 2.7% said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 1.4% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from 0.9% to 1.7%.

The population from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups in Basildon increased by 2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Basildon by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Basildon residents that were unemployed increased from 3.1% to 4.7% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (54.5%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 55.2% in 2001. The percentage of Basildon residents that were self-employed increased from 8.2% to 9.6%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Basildon increased by 1.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Basildon, Eastof England and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Basildon, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 9.0% to 10.1% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (29.5%) households had only one person, compared with 28.6% in 2001. The percentage of households in Basildon which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 38.8% to 35.0%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.8% in 2001 to 10.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Change in work hours

The percentage of employed people in Basildon working less than 16 hours increased from 1.5% to 2.6% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under one in nine (11.1%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 14.5% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 1.9% in 2001 to 2.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Basildon increased by 1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Basildon, Eastof England and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Basildon residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.0% to 1.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.6%) reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.2% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 0.9% in 2001 to 1.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Basildon remained close to 1.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Basildon by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Families in Basildon

The percentage of households with children changed very little here, while the proportion increased in nearby Thurrock.

In Basildon, the proportion of households with children stayed close to 30.9% between the last two censuses. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Thurrock increased from 32.3% to 34.8%.

Across Eastof England, the share of households with children increased from 29.4% to 29.6%.

The proportion of households without children in Basildon fell from 58.8% to 58.2%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents increased from 10.4% to 10.9%.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

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